The archaeological site of Mycenae, a kingdom of the Bronze Age. Photo: Joel Skidmore.

Bronze Age. The period between the Stone Age and the Iron Age when humankind made implements of an alloy of copper and tin. In Greece during this era kingdoms produced glorious arts and crafts, typified by the golden masks found on the site of ancient Mycenae. This was the temporal setting and backdrop for the stories of Greek mythology. It was followed by a violent era of lower material culture when, some speculate, Dorian invaders from the north with iron weapons laid waste the Bronze Age kingdoms.